Gas-reclaimer oil saver and filter for internal-combustion engines



Sept. 21 1926. 1,600,664

J. C. CAVITT GAS RECLAIMER OI L SAVER AND FILTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed April 3. 1922 uhn' 11133 111.

/i i lvn 7 I Patented Sept. 21, 192%.

rric.

JOHN G. CAVITT, or WEIRTON, wnsr VIRGINIA,

GAS-EECLAIMEB OIL SAVER AND FILTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES,

Application filed Apri13,

- bricating oil and foreign materials therein,

, ing oils may be effectively for conduction to the intake manifold of the engine for use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a reclamation device of the above character, including an automatic oil trap, whereby oil segragated from fuel and deposited therein may be controlled in novel manner for return to a proper source, without any liability of oil or incidental foreign material entering the intake portion of the internal combustion engine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved device of the above mentioned character, adapted for reclaiming of fuel from the crank case of an internal coinlnistion engine, said device including a novel oil trap, having a float controlled apparatus therein, whereby drain of oil' therefrom into the crank case may be automatic, preventing any liability of flow of any material other than fuel to the intake portion of the internal combustion engine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a character, which partial vacuum in ternal combustion engine,

cooperates in creating a the crank case of an in whereby lubricatplace, against liability of loss through leaky joints and gaskets.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a reclaiming device of the above mentioned character which includes" a novel filtering and baffling arrangement for proper control of oil spray and fuel prior to entrance into an oil trap, and whereby foreign material is prevented from enterinsaid oil trap.

bther objects and advantages will be ap-,

parent during the course of the following detailed description. V

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this SPGClfiCdtlOl'l, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts through the several views,

of the invention is device of the above mentioned retained in proper' 1922. Serial No. 549,371.

Figure 1 isa side elevation of an internal combustion engine having the improved reclaiming device connected thereto.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the oil trap arrangement embodied in the improved gas reclaiming device, showing the arrange,-

ment' of details therein.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view, taken transversely of the oil f the novel type of baffle and filter arrangement as used therewith.

Figured is a fragmentary cross sectional view, showing the manner in which the re claimer is connected to the casing of the in-' ternalcombustion engine, without the necessity of drilling, tapping or boring apertures in saidcasing, other than are providedfor attaching bolts and the like, c

Figure 5' is a plan ,view of a filtering member.

in the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is trap and. showing nates an internal combustion engine having the improvedreclaiming device B mounted thereon. w

The internal combustion engine A may be of any approved type, since the improved reclaimer B isadapted for use as an accessory upon standard makes of motors. However, A includes an intake pipe or manifold crank case 11, and is preferably provided with a vacuum feed proved type. As is well known, the vacuum feed apparatus 12 includes a tube 13, which has connection with the intake 10. V

The improved reclaimer B preferably comprises an oil trap 15, having a tubular connection 16 leading intothe intake portion 10 of the motor A which may be termed a suction tube or line; a tubular portion 17 leading into the crank case 11 which may be termed a supply tube orv line; and a tubu3 lar portion or drain line 18 for oil draining purposes leading into the crank case 11. I

The oil trap comprising a casing 20 of, aluminum or sim shown the preferred em-' bodiment of my invention,the letter A desig the internal combustion engine,

apparatus 12 ofIany. ap-

1o 0 151s of novel construction,"

lar material, being provided with an eirternally screw threaded extension 21 on the bot tom 22 thereof, whereby a rov'i'ded, communicating with the interior 24: of the casing 20; This passageway 23 provides a taperedseat 24 converging uppassa-geway 231s casing 20. An externally threaded extension 33 to the operation upon the boss 29,

with the passageway 48. For a improved reclaimer,

wardly towards the inside surface of the bottom 22. The casing 20 is open at the top, and is provided with an aperture 28 radially through the side thereof adjacent the top opening; boss 29 being provided extending outre'ardly from thefsides of the casing 20 and about the opening 28. This'opening 28 is provided for cooperating with the tubular portion 17, in ly described. A cover 30 is provided for the open top of the casing 20, being preferably formed of material. similar to that of which the casing is constructed, the cover 30 having openings therein for receiving a screw wl'iereby said cover relation tothe screw threaded extension 33 is provid d upon the outside surface of the cover 30, having a passageway 34 therein, which extends at right angles to the plane defined by the cover 30. This passageway 3a is preferably constricted, jacent the connection of the extension 33 with the cover 30 to provide a tapered seat 35 which converges toward the inside 24 of the casing 20 when the cover 30 is aifixed thereon. It is preferred that an extension 37 be provided upon the inside of the cover 30 in order to provide a tapered seat 38, formed axially of the passageway 34 and immediately below the tapered seat 35; said seat 38, however, being so formed as to di verge inwardly of the chamber 24, and in this respect being formed so that the con stricted ends of the seats 35 and 38 are in adjacent relation.

The oil trap'15 is attached, at its screw tube 16 as by a packing nut 40. The oppositeend of the tube 16, is preferably attached in one passageway of a two way plug 41. This plug element 31 or the like, may be attached in definite 41 1s preferably utilized, because thereby the vacuum tube 13 and the reclaimer tube 16 may be connected through a single opening in the intake portion 10 of the motor A. Thus, the intake pipe or manifold 10 has direct communication with the interior 24 ofthe oil trap 20.

Referring to the tubular portion 17, one end thereof is connected by a connection 45 to the crank case 11 for communication therein. The opposite end of the tubular portion 17 is provided with a packing nut 46', which is adapted for engagement over the externally screw threaded end of a clamping connection 47; This clamping connection 47 is provided with a longitudinal passageway 48 therein, and is adapted for cowhereby the may be aligned purpose which will. be hereinafter more fully ex plainedin describing the operation of the it is preferred that a baflle and filter'arrangement 50 be clamped opening 28 of the casing 20 a manner to be subsequentinside of the crank intermediate the connection 4'? and the boss 29. This arrangement 50 is relatively simple, including a pair of filteror baffle elements 51 and 52, proved material, vapors and liquids to pass therethrough. is preferred that the same be of some durable absorbing material, similar paper, so that the same is clearly distinguishable from screens and like structures, which will, in all liability be undesirable as not giving sufiicient battle action to material passing therethrough. preferably of metal is disposed intermediate the filter elements 51 and 52; said spacer, of course, having an opening 55 therethrough of the same size as the opening 28. In order that the filter arrangement 50 and the connection 4:? may be properly attached to the boss 29, it is studs 56 extend outwardly from the face of the boss 29 to receive the filter arrangement 50 through apertures 58 therein, whereby the spacing member 54 and its aperture-55 is properly aligned with the opening 28 as clearly illustrated in Fi ure 3 of the drawings. The attaching flanges of the connection 47 are similarly providedwith aperture 53, which. are adapted for engagement over the screw threaded studs 56. Clamping nuts 60, preferably of the wing type, are provided for en ing the extreme outer ends of the 2 projecting studs 56, and whereby the battle and filtering arran 'eme'nt 50 as well as the connection 47, may be securelyclamped to the. casing 20 as is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing. Thus, it can be seen that the oil trap 15 is connected for communication with the inside of the crank case through the tube 17 The tube 18, is connected atone end to the screw threaded extension 21, hereinbeforc mentioned, by means of a packing nut 62. The opposite end of the tube 18 is con nected as by means of a joint l5 to the crank case 11. Thus, the tube 18 directly connects the bottom 22 of the oil crank case with the case 11. r

The connections 45, which are adapted for attaching the tubesl? and 18 to the crank case 11 are of novel formation, and provided in order that they may be attached to ordinary bolt apertures 64:, in the crank case 11, without necessity of tapping additional openings in the crank case. These connec tions 45 primarily include a bolt 65, having the longitudinal passageway 66 therethrough. One screw threaded end 67 of said bolt is provided engaging into the opening 64, whereby a flange: 68 formed peripherally about the bolt 65, may engage the outside of the crank case, as is illustrated in Figure 4. An externally extending screw threaded shank 69 is provided for engagement by a packing nut '1' 0, whereby the ends which may be of any an to blotting A spacer element, 54,

: wardly into of the tubes 17 and 18 may be attached to the bolts 65, to have said tubes communicate with the interior of the crank case 11.

Apparatus 7 5 is provided interiorly of the casing20, adapted for cooperating with the passageways 23 and 84 therein in effectively controlling reclaimed vfuel and oil. The apparatus 7 5 includes a stem 76, whichv extends axially of the casing 20, having one end thereof provided with a tapered valve head 7 7 for cooperation upon the tapered seat 24" in the passageway 28. The opposite end of the stem 76 is provided with a valve head 78 of frusto-conical formation, altogether similar to the valve head 77, and adapted for cooperating upon the valve seat 35 provided in the passageway 84, Thus, when the valve head 7 8 is in abutting relation upon its seat 35 to close the passageway 34, the valve head 77 is disposed off of its seat 24, to open the passageway 23, and vice versa.

During operation of the internal combustion engine A, it is obvious that piston ac tion within the cylinders will create a suction which Will be transmitted through the tube 16 into the casing 20. Such suction will immediately unseat the valve head 78, and force the valve head 77 to close the passageway 23. The suction thus created will be transmitted through the tube 17, and create a partial vacuum within the chamber of the crank case 11. It is well known that the chamber in the crank case 11 in practically all types of internal combustion engines contains a certain amount of vapor and liquid fuel which is not consumed within the engine cylinders, and which slips by the pisstons during compression. This"; fuel will, due to the suction in thetubular means intermediateintake and crank case, be'transmitted thru theoil trap 15 into the intake 10, whereby such reclaimed fuel may be. used in the engine cylinders. Aspray. of oil will in some instances be conveyed through the tube 17 into the oil trap 15, where the same is collected in the chamber 24 of the casing 20 due to the fact that the exit passageway 23 is closed, during engine operation, due to the suction action as hereinbefore described. However, it is obvious that the oil will continue to rise in the chamber 24, incident to long periods of operation, so that were no trip means provided, the oil would'rise to a height above the opening 28, and flow backthe crank case, plugging up the reclaiming tube 17. It is altogether possible that th-e'oil would rise through the tube 16 and be conveyed into the intake manifold were no means provided for automatically 84, after the tripping the oil in the chamber same has reached a predetermined height. It is obviousthat oil entering the intake manifold would carburize in the cylinders of the internal combustion engine, and which is the faultwith most types .of r eclaimers.

The arrangement 7 5 preferably includes a tube 80 reciprocably disposed upon the J valve stem 76, having a supporting spider 81 formed upon the lower end thereof, whereby said tube 80 may normally rest upon the inside surface of the bottom 22. A float 84 is reciprocably disposed about the tube 80 and, of course, rises and falls with the liquid within the casing 20. As the liquid. within the casing 20 rises, the float 84 will be buoyed upwardly until the same comes in contact with a projecting flange 86, which is radially formed upon the tube 80 as a part thereof. Further elevation of the liquid within the casing 20 will carry the tube upwardly with the float 84. The extreme up-. per end of the tube 80 is provided with a frustoconical shaped ed for cooperation in the tapered seat 38 pro- 7 vided in the passageway 34.

During operation of the internal combustion engine A, as above mentioned, the oil and gas flowing through the tube 17 will be baffled, through the filter elements 51 and 52, where by said fuel and oil carried therewith enters the chamber 24 of the oil casing '20, so that the oil drops by gravity into the chamber 24,

and the fuel in a Vapor or semi-vaporized.

condition is carriedhipwardly into the intake manifold 10 as-above described; Thus,

valve head 87, adaptand strained .of foreign material it is obvious that the oil is continuously rising in the chamber 24. As the valve head 87 engages its seat 38 in the manner above described, the suction'createdby friction action in the engine A is shut off from communication with the chamber 24 of the cas ing 2( Immediately, the valve stem 76 and the valve heads 77 and 7 8 thereon are dropped by gravity, and are also assisted in the dropping operation by the partial vacuum within the crank case 11, so that the valve head 77 is unseated from the passageway23- and the valve head 78 engages theseat 85. ing 20' will then flow through theipa-ssageway 28 into the drain tube 18 for returning to the crank case .11 for lubrication purposes. When the weight of the oil bearing against The oil trapped within the casthe valve head 77 is so decreased by flow into the drain tube 18 that the suction of the engine unseats the valve head 78, it is obvi- I ithcan be seenthat tlOlllCf the engine, since the i 7 into a closing relation prising a housing 512are acceesibly located, so that the same may be renewed from time to time. It is to be noted that that portion of the passage way 48 adjacent .the filter 52 is enlarged, so that foreign material and the like may be trapped therein and removed by detachment of the connection 4:7, thus keeping the oil in the crank casein a clean condition.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts maybe made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the claims.

I claim;

1. In a reclaimer of the class describedthe combination .of a receptacle providing an oil trap compartment therein, said receptacle having upper and lower aligning openings therein, the upper opening thereof having seats at opposite sides thereabove and therebelow, valve stem reciprocably aligning with said openings, a valve head fixedly carried by the lower end of the valve stem operable in valved relation in the lower opening of said receptacle, a valve head carried at the upper end of the valve stem operable on the upper valve seat of the upper opening, said valve. heads hearing such a relation to each otheron the valve stem that when one is closedover its opening the other will be open with respect to its opening, a

third valve reciprocably carried by the stem normally gravity operated to-be spaced in open relation with of the upper opening of the receptacle, and float means operable by predetermined oil level in. the receptacle compartment to engage the third valve and: elevate the same upon the lower seat of theupper opening of the receptacle.

2. A reclaimer of the class described comproviding a liquid trap, compartment therein, means providing a suction openingin the upper portion of said casing communicating with the compartment therein and having a valve seat converging toward said compartment, means providing a drain opening in the lower portion of said compartment communicating therewith and providing a valve seat converging toward said compartment, means providing a lateral supply opening through said casing, valves operable upon the converging valve seats in the upper and lower portions of said casing, means connecting said valves for synchronous movement whereby when oneof the same is seated the other will be unseated, and float operated valve'means movable independent of said last mentioned means adapted to close off communication of the suction opening from said compartment when the liquid in the oil'trap compartment has reached a predetermi ed level.

3'. In. a reclaimer the combination of a receptacle having an oil respect to the lower seat the lower of the class described.

receiving compartment therein, said receptacle upwardly therein having an upper suc tion opening .therethrough with an upper valve seat converging towards the compartment and a lower valve seat for the suction opening facing into the converging upwardly away from the compartment, said receptacle having a lower drain opening therein provided with a downwardly facing valve seat converging towardthe compartment of the receptacle, said upper and lower openings being in substantially aligning relation, a valve stem aligning with and extending through said upper and lower openings, said valve stemat opposite ends thereof having tapered valve heads thereon, the lower valve head being adapted toseat in the converging seat of the lower opening and the upper valve head I being adapted to seat on the upper converging seat of the upper opening, a tube slidable on the stem within the compartment, said tube on the upper end thereol having a tapered valve head adapted to seat in the lower seat of the upper opening of the receptacle, said tube slidabl'e-on the stem being adapted to rest by gravity in a lower position in the compartment whereby its valve will be inspaced seating relation with the lower seat oi the upper opening, said tube at the lower end thereof having a spider adapted to engage the receptacle 111' a non-interfering relation with the drain opening of said receptacle, float means reciprocable in .the casing with respect to the tube and stem therein, said tube having a projection there on which the float is adapted to engage at a predetermined oil level in the receptacle compartment in order to move the tube upwardly to seat 7 its tapered valve head in seat of the upper opening, the valve. heads of the stem hearing such a re lation to each that when one of the same is closed on its respective seat the other is open.

21. As an article of having oppositely positioned suction and drain openings therein, a third opening disposed laterally in said casing, a, valve stem axially aligning with the first mentioned openings and having valve heads thereon for controlling said openings whereby one will be open when the other is closed, a float operable in said casing, and tubular valve means reciprocably disposed upon said valve stem independent of nio-vementot'the valve heads above mentioned having a lateral projection thereon for engagement by said float upon elevation of the tubular means may be elevated for closing the suction opening.

5. In .a reclaimer of the class-described the combination of a casing providing av liquid compartment therein, said casing having an opening in the top thereof. providing compartment and manufacture, a casing I latter, whereby said I weight of the liquid in said casingconipart- 10 ment will rest thereon, a float in the easing, and valve means movably connected with said float whereby to close off communication of the opening in the top of said casing when the liquid in the compartment 1 has reached a predetermined level.

JOHN G. CAVITT, 

